Vehicle tax

[CharlesHarris]

Adding to what Mortblanc said, many US states, in addition to a sales tax on new vehicles, assess an annual "personal property tax" based on the depreciated value of motor vehicles, caravans, pleasure boats, farm equipment, etc. On my 15 year-old Jeep this amounts to about $85/ year, in addition to the vehicle license fee. The police have licence plate scanners which can check thousands of vehicle plates daily as they drive around, cross-checking real time by computer data link for anything from BOLOs for bank robbers to unpaid property tax. Even in a neighboring state you are not safe, for if you owe tax in Virginia and are scanned in Pennsylvania, you will be ticketed and if the amount us sufficient, the vehicle seized until the amount is paid. The state catching the scofflaw then gets a kickback from the tax recipient, and of course, that gives all the more incentive to catch more.

The best loophole is a beat-up pickup truck with Farm Use placard and no tags. It can only be driven in your county of residence, but you keep your tax receipt with you and can just tell the city cops to go bugger off!

THAT is why I drive a 15 year old Jeep.